Crops

The Agricultural Marketing Ministerial Review Committee's review of regulation in the sugar industry is in the final stages of completion. Rodger Stewart, chairperson of the SA Sugar Association, gives his views on what a transformed industry can expect.

Bruce McLeod first saw the Ecorider when a friend ordered one over the internet from the manufacturers in Nairn, Scotland. “It was love at first sight,” says Bruce. “After putting the bike through its paces on our farm in Cederberg, and being well-versed in off-road driving, I had no doubt whatsoever this machine is unique, a very different animal to the conventional quad bike.

'It's simple, really. The answer is computer technology, and an excellent analysis and understanding of the difference between fixed and variable cost.'

Dr Jan du Plessis of the strategic management research organisation, Intersearch, contends that free and fair elections won't solve Zimbabwe's problems, and that Robert Mugabe has paved the way for dangerous, large-scale foreign intervention in the region. He thinks the survival of land reform could be much briefer than politicians thought.

Recently the UK Farmer's Weekly reported on the UK National Combine Driver of the Year Award. The occasion proved that correct setting and efficient driving can hugely improve combine performance and productivity.

'You must know the difference between fixed and variable costs, and understand the vital concept of marginal cost and income… and it's really a piece of cake.'

Gesie van Deventer - Female Farmer of the Year in 2002, also named top female exporter and overall Farmer of the Year in 2003 - called on farmers to make a mindshift concerning land reform at the Canning Fruit Producers Association's annual meeting that was recently held in Worcester.

'Here we were both speaking English, but without understanding each other. It's often like this in business too, and it's a mess.'

The reduction in farm labour is due to globalisation, agricultural competition, the lack of skilled labour, rigid ­employment legislation and ill-timed land tenure laws, says Prof Doreen ­Atkinson, visiting professor at the ­University of the Free State and author of Going for Broke, a new book about the history and plight of farmworkers.

'A reasonably accurate crop estimate is an essential step in the annual management cycle... and with fruit we seem to get it hopelessly wrong...'

Climate change will result in water shortages, which will affect agriculture and industry, as well as raise conflict potential between riparian states. Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van S chalkwyk spoke at the recent Climate Change Summit.

Exhibitors' fears about the demo cancellation and losing customer contact were laid to rest at this year's Nampo show. In fact, more staff were available to deal with specific enquiries - with the range of hi-tech machines available, a one-on-one with an expert beats a glimpse of a machine as it heads up the field.

'If you're producing a food product that the bappies consider unpalatable, you're heading for trouble.'

Yolan Friedmann, deputy CEO and conservation manager of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, warns that SA must radically change its attitude towards overexploitation of its fishing stocks if it wants to save them.

IT SEEMS THAT EVERY YEAR THE EXHIBITORS AT NAMPO CATER FOR A WIDER VARIETY OF FARMERS, growing a greater assortment of crops, some of which require very specialised equipment. There was also a greater selection of general-purpose tractors and implements at the show.

THE GENERAL FEELING AMONG THE EXHIBITORS AT THE 2007 NAMPO HARVEST DAY SHOW WAS that business was good. Issue date 15 June 2007

The French display an overwhelming support for their farmers, which is in stark contrast to the overall treatment of SA's commercial farmers. State policies are crippling the sector responsible for feeding 45 million South Africans, and TAU SA says our government could learn from the French. TAU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl explains. Issue date 15 June 2007

Small business owners, who may not have access to computer ­software for calculating business income and expenses, can now heave a sigh of relief. Issue date 8 June 2007

'It's all about energy efficiency, which apart from saving the planet, saves the cash flow.

On 21 February at Pannar's Crop Extravaganza near Delmas, Mpumalanga, Ernst Janovsky, head of agriculture at First National Bank, gave two sessions of about 100 farmers each, insight into agricultural market dynamics and explained the predicted structural changes and management actions needed to be globally competitive